The Democrats’ Woke War

Did the Democratic Party go too woke? Is it not woke enough? Did Donald Trump win working-class voters because of the culture war or because Democrats lacked a strong enough economic message? Welcome to month two of the debate that will be resolved … well, maybe never … but has come to define the Democratic Party’s leadership fight.

Martin O’Malley’s pitch to be the next Democratic National Committee chair emphasizes diversity and inclusion as the way to strengthen a working-class coalition, per NOTUS’ Calen Razor, who got a first look at O’Malley’s proposal.

Among the others running, Minnesota state Party Chair Ken Martin called for a “massive narrative and branding project” to address why Democrats are losing working-class voters. And Wisconsin state Party Chair Ben Wikler’s opening statement was to a Democratic Party built by the working class, which “won breakthroughs on civil rights and women’s rights and workers’ rights.”

Calen interviewed 20 elected Democrats and party officials about the current existential reckoning over how to win back the working class, wokeness and identity politics. The main takeaway: Language around everything is extremely fraught right now.

“Woke is a buzzword for Black issues or for far-left issues at this point,” said Rep. Troy Carter, the 1st vice chair-elect of the Congressional Black Caucus. “It’s a hijacking of a word that does not mean those things. We should not move away from the significance of fighting for the poor, downtrodden and people that have been left out. It’s central to the Democratic Party.”

One DNC member, John Verdejo, told Calen that any DNC chair’s pitch that references the “working class” makes him wary, saying it could be a “dog whistle.” “When we hear that word, it almost sounds like they’re pushing aside the issues of Black and brown folks who carry the water for this party,” he said.

Read the story here.

On NOTUS: Brandon Gill’s Plans for the Freshmen

The incoming Republican freshman class president, Rep.-elect Brandon Gill, jumped on the phone to chat about his new job, approach to bipartisanship and the dreaded room lottery.

On his decision to run for leadership: “My thought running for this, and my goal, was to put the class in the best and strongest position possible to actually execute on the Trump agenda.” The congressman-elect said the southern border will be his top priority for his Texas district.

On working with Democrats: Gill said he is open if Democrats are willing to play ball but indicated that he doesn’t plan on going out of his way to reach across the aisle. “I don’t believe in bipartisanship for the sake of bipartisanship,” he said.

On being the youngest GOP lawmaker in Congress: Gill spoke on the salience of Trump appearing on podcasts that appealed to young men. “I think that young people, even young men, but all Americans are really looking for sincerity … that’s something that hopefully we can bring to D.C.”

On everything else: Gill said he has a “great, great relationship” with Mike Johnson. He declined to give NOTUS a hint as to which committees or caucuses he is eyeing. But he did tell us that his room lottery pick was “exactly average.” Longworth.

—Riley Rogerson

Front Page

• Republicans Want Billy Long to ‘Shake Things Up’ at the IRS: “Who knows? Maybe he’ll even auction off a few buildings along the way,” said one Republican senator.
• Rep. John Duarte Eyeing Trump Administration Job: After narrowly losing reelection, the California Republican is pursuing a post to manage all water projects in the West.

Can You Hear Me Now?

If he’s confirmed as health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would have new oversight over one of his special interests: 5G.

RFK Jr. has repeatedly expressed concern that 5G poses health risks, posting in 2020 that it “should be discontinued until it has been ‘sufficiently demonstrated that there are no real and serious health risks.’” It turns out that the 5G realm might be a rich vein for research as experts disagree about its impacts, NOTUS’ Margaret Manto reports.

“We’re basically flying blind on 5G,” said Joel Moskowitz, the director of the Center for Family and Community Health at UC Berkeley.

Read the story here.

Go Set a Watchman

After catching flak for denying claims, Florida’s state-backed property insurer is attempting some CYA, NOTUS’ Claire Heddles reports.

Citizens Property Insurance hopes that an announced “independent audit” — by a company employee — will help rebuild public trust in the beleaguered corporation. The audit was announced after state Senate President Ben Albritton threatened to intervene.

“I’m not going to sit idly by if legitimate claims get denied while rates continue to rise, period.” Albritton said in a November floor speech. “I want to make sure that impacted Floridians and insurance companies hear me loudly and clearly — we are watching.”

Read the story here.

Number You Should Know

187

That’s how many more votes Democratic challenger Adam Gray won over freshman Rep. John Duarte in his reelection bid, making it the 15th-closest congressional race in the past century, according to a NOTUS analysis. In an interview with NOTUS’ Katherine Swartz reflecting on the race, Duarte blamed his loss on a lack of investment from the Congressional Leadership Fund.

Week Ahead

• SecDef nominee Pete Hegseth meetings with GOP senators, including Susan Collins.
• House Democrats on the Steering Committee meet Tuesday to decide the top slots on exclusive panels (i.e. Appropriations). Recommendations for the rest of the committees will be decided Dec. 16.
• The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Tuesday in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County to consider the scope of environmental permitting.
• Eric Adams and Trump’s “border czar,” Tom Homan, will discuss deportation plans Thursday.
• The National Defense Authorization Act is expected to hit the House floor.

Not Us

We know NOTUS reporters can’t cover it all. Here’s some other great hits by… not us.

• Government coverage of Ozempic splits Republicans by Kadia Goba at Semafor
• Health care group targets Alaska Sen. Murkowski in effort to block RFK Jr. from becoming U.S. health secretary by Sean Maguire at Anchorage Daily News
• Fill the Swamp? By David A. Graham at The Atlantic
• She Met Hunter Biden One Night at a Club. Then She Fell in Love. By Joseph Bernstein at The New York Times

Meet Us: Margaret Manto

Welcome to “Meet Us” where we introduce you to a member of the NOTUS team. Up today is Margaret Manto who is an AJI fellow and reporter covering Louisiana and public health.

• Hometown: Charlottesville, Virginia
• Past: Research biologist
• Why journalism: So much can be learned about the world by talking to people and hearing their stories.
• AJI highlight so far: Taking classes taught by amazing journalists with a great fellowship cohort.
• Thing you can’t live without: My two cats, Luna and Elmo
• Best advice you’ve ever been given: Always orient your map.

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